Exeter under-18s 1 Argyle 5

Exeter under-18s 1 Argyle 5

For the second time in three days the young Grecians had to stomach defeat by their Devon rivals as Argyle followed up Wednesday's 1-0 Cup victory with this comprehensive result at the Cat and Fiddle Ground.

Jason Vincent notched the only goal at Home Park in midweek and it was the second year apprentice who once again put the skids under the Grecians with a second half hat-trick. Alex Fletcher and Billy Palfrey also scored to make it a pleasing afternoon for Kevin Hodges' young greens.  

The Pilgrims were two goals to the good inside the first eight minutes with Billy Palfrey catching the home goalkeeper out of position to score from 35 yards, then Jack Calver's corner was met by a Alex Fletcher who scored with a firm header despite the striker going away from goal.

Exeter had a great chance to pull one back on 16 minutes but they sent a penalty well over the bar after goalkeeper Mike Cooper had been penalised for his challenge in the box. However, they did find the back of the net nine minutes later to send the teams in at the break with just a single goal dividing them.

The second half belonged to Argyle; they restored their two-goal advantage on 47 minutes with good play between Dan Rooney and Alex Battle setting up Vincent for a cool finish.

Another fine move, once more instigated by Rooney, put in Vincent for a clinical left-foot finish before the scoring, and Vincent's hat-trick, was completed on 70 minutes. Fletcher was fouled in the area, and Vincent to sent his spot-kick high into the corner of the net.

Academy Manager Hodges was rightly pleased with the performance after the final whistle saying: "A good win in which we started brightly scoring two quick goals.

"Unfortunately we then took our foot off the pedal a bit letting Exeter back into the game, but we then regained our poise to control the game in the second half. It was pleasing to see Jason score his hat-trick."

Argyle: Michael Cooper, Billy Palfrey, Jordan Bentley, Owen Jones, Liam Knowles, Dan Rooney (Ryan Law 80), Jake Miller, Jack Calver, Alex Fletcher, Jason Vincent (Billy Craske 75), Alex Battle (Luke Jephcott 65).